The young England custodian produced a man-of-the-match display in the 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Hart made a string of excellent saves before half-time as Spurs overran City and their expensive new recruits.
The 23-year-old, who travelled to the World Cup with England but did not feature, thwarted Jermain Defoe on three occasions, Peter Crouch, Tom Huddlestone and a deflected shot from Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
Much of the talk surrounding the first Barclays Premier League match of the new season was who City manager Roberto Mancini would select in goal. Hart had returned from a successful loan spell at Birmingham City last season and made it clear recently that he was not keen to warm the bench at Eastlands.
VERY HAPPY
Hart returned to the dressing room after the warm-up exhibiting a smile almost as wide as the tunnel after it was confirmed he would start, while Given looked like a man with much on his mind as he made his way off the pitch.
Hart said: "I didn't get a chance in the World Cup, so it was great to know I was playing here.
"But I don't now consider myself to be No.1, because Shay Given is the main man - he's a great goalkeeper.
"We had to dig in to get a point because this is a hard place to come and play."
Mancini hopes the summer transfer window on 31st August will close without Given having left the club. The Italian is acutely aware of Given's desire to start matches but is hoping that the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper does not hand in a transfer request.
"I hope that Shay can stay here with us. We have time, another 20 days, until the end of the market," he said.
"I respect every decision but I hope that Shay stays here.
"At this moment, Joe plays but because we have four competitions, we need Shay.
"I'm sorry for one goalkeeper but for this match I chose Joe and I'm very happy to have Shay Given.
"I spoke to him. He's a big name, he's a big goalkeeper, he respects my decision."
GREAT STYLE
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was pleased with his side's display but accepted they had encountered a goalkeeper playing at the top of his game.
"I couldn't have asked any more from the players," he said.
"We came out, did everything we worked on on Friday.
"We were determined to press City all over the park and that's what we did.
"When we won possession, I thought we moved the ball about with great style and created lots of chances.
"Their keeper was fantastic and some days it goes like that."
Redknapp added that he was interested in signing free agent William Gallas but that he "doubted" a deal would be done. The Frenchman left Arsenal earlier in the summer and is yet to find a new club.